Swing out type radiator



Dec. 23, 1969 ZOLTOK 3,485,293

SWING OUT TYPE RADIATOR 2 Filed April 12. 1968 FIG.3

INVENTOR HARRY ZOLTOK United States Patent US. U. 16586 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to radiators for motor coaches and the like in which the radiator casing is hinged by one vertical hinge to the frame and can be swung out for servicing when desired. In order to avoid long flexible hose connections which may foul engine equipment when the radiator is in the closed position, we have provided a vertical horizontally partitioned tube adjacent the hinge line with hoses extending from it to the engine. Upper and lower elbows are rotatably and sealably connected to the ends of the vertical tube and radiator hoses extend from these to the radiator so that the upper and lower elbows swing around the vertical tube as the radiator is swung in and out.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in hose connections for swing out type radiators.

The relatively heavy duty radiator components normally used in present day motor coaches and the like are usually side mounted and it is desirable that the components be hinged vertically by one edge of the frame thereof so that they can be swung outwardly to provide access to the engine nacelle.

It is obvious, of course, that long flexible hoses could be connected between the upper outlet of the radiator and the engine coolant outlet and between the lower inlet .of the radiator and the engine coolant outlet. However, the difiiculty here is that when the radiator is closed, these relatively long flexible hoses take up considerable room and may conceivably interfere with the correct operation of the engine or the associated component.

The present device eliminates the long flexible hoses by providing a vertical, horizontally partitioned component having elbows sealably and rotatably mounted upon either end and connected by short lengths of hose to the radiator inlet and outlet and having relatively short lengths of flexible hosing extending between the component and the engine thus eliminating the long awkward length of resilient hosing normally required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which eliminates the possibility of long flexible hoses from interfering with the operation of the engine and/or auxiliary components.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a evice of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is de signed.

With the foregoing considerations in view, and such other objects, purposes or advantages as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept which embraces or includes the method, process, construction, arrangement of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, as herein particularly exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation taking from the inside showing the radiator and the device connected thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1.

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FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partially sectioned view of the component per se.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the connection between the component and the coach frame.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the lower elbow per se.

FIGURE 6 is a view at right angles to FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partially sectioned view of the sealing sleeve.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional elevation of the same scale as FIGURE 7, showing the connection of the lower elbow to the lower chamber.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGURES l and 2 in which 10 is generally representative of a conventional radiator and fan assembly held within a substantially rectangular frame 11. This frame is hinged vertically as at 12, by one vertical side 13 to the vertical side 14 of the coach frame 15 defining opening 16 within which the radiator normally resides. FIGURE 2 shows the radiator in the partially open position in phantom, so that access to the interior of the nacelle can be made through the opening when the radiator is swung outwardly.

Situated adjacent the vertical hinge 12 and substantially parallel thereto is a vertical cylinder component collectively designated 17. FIGURE 3 shows the details of the construction of this component which is formed, in this embodiment, by two castings, an upper casting 18 and a lower casting 19. The two castings 18 and 19 are similar in construction and consist of a cylindrical body 20 having a tubular hose connection sleeve 21 extending from one side of the body and communicating with the interior thereof.

One end 22 of the castings are machined to provide a cylindrical sleeve 23.

The other or inner ends 24 of the castings are machined and are adapted to engage over a relatively short joining cylinder 25 having a horizontal partition 26 formed therein. The inner ends 24 are sealably secured to the joining cylinder 25 either by solder or other similar means. Formed integrally with the cylinder 25 is an offstanding lug 27 having a pair of spaced and parallel apertured lug plates 28 extending therefrom, the purpose of which will hereinafter be disclosed.

A radiator hose 29 extends from the upper sleeve or collar 21 to the outlet of the coolant systemof the associated engine (not illustrated). A further conduit 29 extends from the lower sleeve or collar 21 to the engine coolant inlet, said hoses 29 and 29 being secured to the sleeve 21 by means of conventional clamp 30.

The partition 26 divides the component 17 into an upper chamber 31 and a lower chamber 32 although the construction of these chambers is similar.

An elbow 33 is rotatably and sealably connected to the upper cylindrical portion 23 of the upper chamber 31 and a similar elbow 34 is sealably and rotatably secured to the lower cylindrical portion 23 of the lower chamber 32.

FIGURE 8 and FIGURE 7 show the details of this connection and of importance is the substantially cylindrical sealing sleeve 35. An annular O ring groove 36 is formed within the outer wall 37 of the sleeve and a pair of annular O ring grooves 38 are formed within the inner wall 39 of the sleeve as clearly shown in FIGURE 7.

This sleeve engages one end 40 of the relevant elbow 33 or 34 as shown in FIGURE 8 and the cylindrical end 23 of the relevant chamber 31 or 32, in turn engages 0 within the sleeve 35. 0 rings 41 are placed within the O ring grooves 36 and 38 and seal the surfaces between the cylindrical portion 33 and the sleeve 35 and between the sleeve 35 and the portion 40 of the elbow yet permit the elbow :to be rotated with respect to the component 17 as desired. In this connection, a shoulder 42 is formed upon one end 43 of the sleeve to assist in locating the sleeve within the portions 40 of the elbows.

Lugs 44 are formed on the elbows and secure same to the frame 11 of the radiator assembly 10. The elbows 33 and 34 are provided with a horizontally extending portion 45 and then a further horizontal extending portion 46 extending at right angles to portion 45 so that the elbows terminate the hose connecting portions 47 on a plane spaced from the portions 40. Relatively short lengths of flexible hose 48 extend between the portions 47 of the elbows and the radiator connecting sleeve 49, conventional clips clamping the hose in position.

Due to the fact that the vertical component 17 cannot be mounted exactly on the hinge line 12, it will be appreciated that there will be a certain amount of rotational movement required of the component 17 as the radiator swings inwardly and outwardly. In this connection I have provided an adjustable link 51 pivotally connected by one end 52 thereof to the aforementioned lug plates 28 by means of pivot pin 53. The other end 54 of the link 51 is connected by pivot pin 55 to an elongated slot 56 within lugs 57 otfstanding from the chassis frame 15. The mounting of the pivot 55 Within slot 50 permits this partial rotation of component 17 yet restricts it from rotating to the extent where it could interfere with the hose connections 29 and 29'.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Accordingly, it is intended that what is described herein should be regarded as illustrative of such concept and not for the purpose of limiting protection to any particular embodiment thereof, but that only such limitations should be placed upon the scope of protection to which the inventor hereof is entitled, as justice dictates.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a swing out radiator for vehicles which include a substantially rectangular radiator framework hinged along one vertical edge to the vehicle frame for horizontal swinging outwardly and inwardly; means to connect the engine hoses to the radiator hoses, said means including a vertical tube component, said component having upper and lower chambers, each of said engine hoses being connected to the said upper and lower chambers respectively, an upper elbow rotatably and sealably connected to said upper chamber, a lower elbow rotatably and sealably connected to said lower chamber, said radiator hoses being connected to said elbows, and means extending between said component and said vehicle frame to limit the rotationary movement of said component, said means including a link pivotally connected by one end to the said component and by the other end thereof to the said vehicle frame, one of said pivotal connections being slotted for limited endwise movement.

. 2. The device according to claim 1 in which said component is provided with cylindrical portions engageable by one end of said elbows, a cylindrical sealing sleeve freely mounted between said one end and said cylindrical portion, and sealing means between the outer wall of said sleeve and said one end and between the inner wall of said sleeve and said cylindrical portion.

3. Means for swinging a radiator in and out of a vehicle frame about a vertical hinge line, said means comprising in combination a horizontally partitioned component, said partition defining an upper and lower chamber in said component, an upper elbow rotatably and sealably secured to said chamber, a lower elbow rotatably and sealably secured to said lower chamber, and means to restrain the rotation of said component, said meanssincluding a link pivotally connected by one end to said component and by the other end thereof to said vehicle frame, one of said pivotal connections being slotted for limited endwise movement.

4. The device according to claim 3 in which said component is provided with cylindrical portions engageable by one end of said elbows, a cylindrical sealing sleeve freely mounted between said one end and said cylindrical portion, and sealing means between the outer wall of said sleeve and said one end and between the inner wall of said sleeve and said cylindrical portion.

MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

